Voters established the Commission on Judicial Qualifications (now called the Commission on Judicial Conduct). The commission investigates complaints against any judge in the state.

1974

Voters approved merit selection and retention election of justices for the Supreme Court and judges for the Court of Appeals. This system also applies to judges of the superior court in counties with 150,000 or more people (at present, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties).
In 1992, voters changed this population cutoff to 250,000, which still has the effect of limiting merit selection to the three most populous counties. All other counties currently elect their judges but are authorized to use the merit selection process if approved by a majority of the
county voters. The amendment requires the Governor to appoint these judges from lists of highly qualified candidates screened and nominated by the Commission on Appellate and Trial Court Appointments.

1992

Voters approved Proposition 109, a Constitutional amendment that requires public input and the establishment of a process to review judges’ job performances. The public receives performance reports before each general election. Jurors, witnesses, litigants, administrative
staff and attorneys who have interacted with a judge in a judicial setting complete surveys as part of this process. The public provides input through written comment and public hearings. In addition, public committees screen and recommend candidates to the Governor for membership on four commissions that nominate judges to fill vacancies on the bench. One statewide committee with 16 members serves the Appellate Nominating Commission, and three committees of 16 members each comprise the judicial nominating commissions in
Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties.